Among the goals of the media project are to raise public awareness and understanding of the Pacific Islands region throughout the United States, beginning with Hawaii.

Ala'ilima says the U.S. mainstream media tend to overlook the vast Pacific Islands region in their coverage of international news, focusing instead on Pacific Rim countries and Europe. They do this, she says, despite the fact that newsworthy events of major significance are taking place.

Even in Hawaii, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and where Pacific Islands countries are closer than other nations, she adds, such...

In the past year, nearly half of all Cook Islands government workers have retired or moved to private sector positions, according to Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey Henry.

As a partial result, he said, the government's budget has been reduced from $69-million (NZ) to $43-million, in what Sir Geoffrey called "radical and sweeping financial reforms" to resolve the country's economic difficulties.

Further government budget reductions are planned for Fiscal Year 1997-1998.

The Prime Minister said the reform process, which is patterned after early and successful New Zealand fiscal strategies, has taught the Cook Islands government how to search out fiscal inefficiencies. Sir Geoffrey emphasized that this will be an on-going process.

Cook Islands Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey Henry reports a $500,000 (NZ) government commitment, "to assure excellence," when his country hosts the annual South Pacific Forum in Rarotonga next September.

The Opening Ceremony, in which the leaders of the Forum's 16 member nations are expected to participate, has been scheduled for September 17.

Sir Geoffrey says almost all of the half-million dollars to be expended will stay in the local Cook Islands economy, paying for such things as extra security, drivers, and liaison officers, and other services for the delegates.

The large media contingent which normally accompanies the leaders, diplomats, and their staffs, he points out, also will help assure booming hotel, restaurant, and entertainment business activities throughout Rarotonga during the Forum.

Meantime, the Australian aid agency, AUSAID, has committed funds for such things as computers, photocopiers, and sound systems. The...

The new Pacific Islands Telecommunications Association, PITA, will receive major administrative support from Telecom Fiji and FINTEL. The announcement was made during PITA's Annual Meeting in Suva last month.

Delegates, from throughout Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia, were informed that two managers will be seconded to PITA for separate twelve-month periods. Their mission will be to carry out the Association's plans to improve telecommunications services throughout the Pacific Islands region.

The Executive Director of Hawaii's Pacific Telecommunications Council, Richard Barber, told the Honolulu PACNEWS Bureau that he signed a memorandum of understanding at the meeting with PITA President Atma Ram, Operations Manager of FINTEL, which enables PTC and PITA to share telecommunications information and collaborate on mutually beneficial activities.

The meeting also heard from the Managing Director of TONGASAT, Sione Kite, who said...

The College of Micronesia has received a personal contribution of $25,000 (US) from FSM President Bailey Olter and First Lady Amelia Olter.

College President, Susan Moses, says the generous gift will be added to the school's endowment fund, which is targeted to raise $250,000 by May 30.

So far, Moses reports, approximately $225,000 has been donated. When the goal is reached, the endowment fund will receive an additional two-for-one challenge grant of half a million dollars from the U.S. Department of Education.

Moses said interest earned annually from investing the endowment funds will be used to cover ongoing College of Micronesia operating expenses.

Last month, the Hawaii banking giant also acquired operations in Papua New Guinea, which have been re-named Bank of Hawaii (PNG), Limited. Branches in Port Moresby and Lae now are in operation.

Chairman Johnson, in announcing the quarterly earnings in Honolulu, said the "nations of the Pacific hold enormous potential" and Bankcorp Hawaii looks forward "to participating in their growth and development."

Bancorp's total assets at the end of March were 14-billion US dollars, an 8-point-4 percent growth compared to last year.

The 5th Annual World Fire Knife Dance Competition will get underway at Hawaii's Polynesian Cultural Center on Saturday.

The week-long Samoan cultural event will see knife dancers from American Samoa,

Western Samoa, Hawaii, and the U.S. Mainland competing for cash prizes and world titles. Competitors will be judged on compulsory and technical moves, as well as choreography, pacing, and dramatic interpretation.

Dancers will not be permitted to use oils or artificial aids to keep from getting burned.

Both young people and adults will participate in the event. Judges will select winners in several competition categories on May 17.

A decision, regarding FSM Acting President Jacob Nena's request that U.S. President Bill Clinton declare Pohnpei a disaster area and eligible for emergency financial assistance, still is a week or more away.

Flooding and landslides two weeks ago took the lives of 19 persons and caused severe property damage in the Sokehs area of Pohnpei.

The Director of the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency's Pacific Area Office in Honolulu, William Carwile, said that the findings of a five-member investigation team, now in Guam, still are being collated and evaluated.

The final FEMA report, now expected to be completed next week, will be forwarded to President Clinton for action.

The Federated States of Micronesia is eligible for U.S. FEMA assistance under the 15-year FSM-U.S. Compact of Free Association.

"There is no decline in the U.S. government's interest in the Pacific Islands region," says Ambassador to Fiji Don Gevirtz. "I cannot state that emphatically enough."

He told a Honolulu meeting of Hawaii's Pacific and Asian Affairs Council today, that America's highest priority in the region now, however, is to increase trade and investment, to improve the economies of both the United States and the Pacific Islands nations.

Ambassador Gevirtz said he personally has visited more than fifty Fiji companies in efforts to stimulate trade. He encouraged Hawaii business representatives to do the same, to not overlook mutually beneficial goods, services, and investment opportunities throughout the South Pacific.

Gevirtz, resident U.S. ambassador in Suva for the past year and a half, also is accredited to Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu. In addition, he and his 125-member staff handle immigration and counselor services pertaining to French...

The Western Samoan Head of State, His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II, will bestow a chiefly title on the President of Hawaii's Polynesian Cultural Center, Lester Moore, Saturday morning, May 10.

Honoring Moore for the Center's work in making visitors from throughout the world aware of Samoan culture, the formal investiture ceremonies will take place at Brigham Young University-Hawaii, near Honolulu. It will be the first time for His Highness to award a chiefly title outside of Samoa.

While in Hawaii, Malietoa also will open the Fifth Annual World Fire Knife Dance Competition.

In addition, he will preside over this year's We Are Samoa Festival at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Festival activities will include coconut-husking, basket-weaving, and Samoan food preparation, as well as traditional singing, dancing, and story telling.

Pacific Islands Report is a nonprofit news publication of the Pacific Islands Development Program at the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. Offered as a free service to readers, PIR provides an edited digest of news, commentary and analysis from across the Pacific Islands region, Monday - Friday.